Third Hour

The Beginning of the Third Hour


Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. (For private prayers begin, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”.)


Reader: Amen. Glory to You, our God, glory to You!


O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who are everywhere present and fill all things; Treasurer of Blessings and Giver of life, come and dwell within us, and cleanse us from every blemish, and save our souls, O blessed One!


Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us! [3]


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


O most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; O Lord, cleanse us of our sins; O Master, forgive our transgressions; O Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities, for Your Name's sake.


Lord, have mercy! [3]


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.


Priest: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.


Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. [12]


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


Come, let us worship God our King! Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and our God! Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Himself, our King and our God!


Psalm 16


O LORD, GIVE HEED TO MY righteousness, attend to my supplication. Consider my prayer, which does not come from dishonest lips.


Let my judgment ensue directly from Your attention, let my eyes behold uprightness.


*You have proved my heart, You have visited me in the night, You have tried me with fire, and have found no unrighteousness in me.


In order that my mouth might not speak about the accomplishments of mankind, I have struggled on hard paths for the sake of the words of Your lips.


*Set my footsteps in Your paths, that my steps may not falter.


I have cried out to You because You have heard me. O God, listen in my favor and hear my words.


*Let Your mercies be made wonderful, O Lord, who save those who hope in You.


From those who have resisted Your strength, keep me, O Lord, as the apple of Your eye.


*In the shelter of Your wings, protect me, from the pretense of the ungodly who have oppressed me.


My enemies have surrounded my soul, they have enclosed themselves with their own fat, their mouths have voiced arrogance.


*They who have cast me out have now encircled me, they have set their eyes to look askance on the earth.


They have taken me as might a lion ready for its prey, and as might a lion’s whelp that lurks in hiding.


*Arise, O Lord, overtake them and trip their heels; deliver my soul from ungodly men, Your sword from Your enemies.


O Lord, from Your chosen ones separate them from the earth during their life; indeed, they have filled themselves with Your hidden treasures.


*They have satisfied themselves with swine and have left the remnants to their children.


But as for me, I shall appear in righteousness before You; I shall be filled when Your glory is made manifest to me.


Psalm 24


TO YOU, O LORD, I have lifted up my soul.


O my God, in You have I trusted; let me never be ashamed, nor let my enemies ridicule me.


*Indeed let none who wait upon You be ashamed; let them be ashamed who are lawless without cause.


Make Your ways known to me, O Lord, and teach me Your paths.


*Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior; for on You have I waited all the day long.


Remember Your compassions, O Lord, and Your mercies, for they are everlasting.


*Disregard the sins and ignorance of my youth; remember me, according to Your mercy, O Lord, for the sake of Your goodness.


Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He will set a law for those who sin in the way.


*He will guide the meek in judgment, He will teach the meek His ways.


All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, for those seeking to fulfill His covenant and the confirmation of His love.


*For the sake of Your name, O Lord, be gracious to my sin; for it is great.


Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will set him a law in the way which He has chosen.


*His soul shall dwell among good things, and his offspring shall inherit the earth.


The Lord is the strength of those who fear Him; and His covenant shall be evident to them.


*My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for it is He who will draw my feet out of the snare.


Look upon me, and have mercy on me; for I am one who is only-begotten and poor.


*The afflictions of my heart are multiplied; deliver me from want.


Behold my lowliness and my toil, and forgive all my sins.


*Look upon my enemies, for they are multiplied, and they have hated me unjustly.


Preserve my soul and rescue me; let me not be made ashamed for hoping in You.


*The innocent and the upright have clung to me, because I waited on You, O Lord.


Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his afflictions.


Psalm 50


HAVE MERCY ON ME, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the multitude of Your compassions blot out my transgression.


Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.


For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.


*Against You only have I sinned and done this evil before You, that You might be justified in Your words, and prevail when You are judged.


For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me.


*For behold, You have loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Your wisdom You have made clear to me.


You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; You shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.


*You shall make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones which have been humbled shall rejoice.


Turn Your face away from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.


*Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.


Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.


*Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and with Your governing Spirit establish me.


I shall teach transgressors Your ways and the ungodly shall turn back to You.


*Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, who are the God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Your righteousness.


O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise.


*For if You had desired sacrifice, I would have given it; with whole-burnt offerings You shall not be pleased.


A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise.


*Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.


Then shall You be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings.


Then shall they offer bullocks upon Your altar.


Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia; glory to You, O God. [3]


Lord, have mercy. [3]


The Tropar of the Day.


Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


O BIRTHGIVER OF GOD, you are the true vine who has blossomed forth for us the Fruit of Life. We beseech you to intercede, O Lady, together with the Holy Apostles, that our souls find mercy.


BLESSED IS THE LORD GOD, blessed is the Lord day by day; the God of our salvation shall prosper us along the way; our God is the God of salvation.


Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us! [3]


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.



O most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; O Lord, cleanse us of our sins; O Master, forgive our transgressions; O Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities, for Your Name's sake.


Lord, have mercy! [3]


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.


Priest: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.


Reader: Amen. The Kondak of the day.


Lord, have mercy. [40]


The Prayer of the Hours: O Christ God, who at all times and at every hour, in heaven and on earth, are worshiped and glorified, who are long suffering, plenteous in mercy, most compassionate, who love the righteous and have mercy on sinners, who call all to salvation through the promise of good things to come: Receive, O Lord our prayers at this hour, and guide our life toward your commandments. Sanctify our souls, make chaste our bodies, set aright our minds, cleanse our thoughts, and deliver us from every sorrow, evil, and pain. Encompass us with your holy angels, so that guarded and guided by their watch, we may attain to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of Your ineffable glory: for You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.


Lord, have mercy. [3]


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who as a virgin gave birth to God the Word, true Birthgiver of God, we magnify you.


In the name of the Lord, father, bless. (For private prayers, say, “By the intercession of Your saints, O Lord, bless.”)


Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.


Reader: Amen.


The Prayer of St. Mardarius: O SOVEREIGN GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, O Lord, the Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and You, O Holy Spirit, one Godhead, one Power: have mercy on me, a sinner, and by the judgments which You know, save me, Your unworthy servant: for You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.


The End of the Third Hour